Fulton County to host induction and vintage game

Friday, August 22, 2014 - Updated: 9:24 AM

GLOVERSVILLE -- The Fulton County Baseball & Sports Hall of Fame will be holding its 2014 Inductions on Saturday August 30, 2014 at Parkhurst Field in Gloversville between innings of a Vintage Baseball Game.

Stewart, a Gloversville High School pitching phenom, was drafted out of GHS in 1948 by the St. Louis Browns. In the Minor Leagues, Stewart faced Mickey Mantle in the KOM League, and later played for the Gloversville Glovers in 1950 with current Fulton County HOF'ers John Coakley and Jack McKeon. Stewart still holds the Canadian-American League Record for appearances by a pitcher with 56 in 1950.

Baldwin, a Mayfield pitching & golf standout, was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1957 during the peak of the Yankee Dynasty. He was inducted into the Capital District Basketball HOF 2012.

The third HOF inductee will be Chuck Harmon. Harmon was signed just a few players after Jackie Robinson in 1947 and began his career with the Gloversville Glovers that same season. He would become the first black man to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954.

Both Baldwin & Harmon will be on hand to sign autographs and receive their HOF plaques. The family of Loren Stewart will be in attendance to receive his plaque.

Two games will be played that day, with the first being a "throw-back" game between the "Gloversville Glovers" and the "Johnstown Buckskins" playing for the "Parkhurst Cup" at noon, followed by a Vintage Game between the "Whately Pioneers" & the "A., J. & G's" at 2 p.m.

The Gloversville Little League Majors All-Star team will be wearing throw back "Gloversville Glovers uniforms" to honor the professional team that played in Gloversville from the mid-1930's until 1951, while the Johnstown Little League Majors All-Star team will be wearing throw back "Johnstown Buckskins Uniforms" to honor the professional team that played in Johnstown in the late 1800's. They will be competing for the newly created Parkhurst Cup. The featured Vintage Game using the MLB rules in place in 1886 will take place between the Whatley Pioneers of Western Massachusetts and the local A., J. & G Team, which is being compiled of former Gloversville Little Leaguers who once played at the historic Parkhurst Field site. Both teams will be wearing turn-of-the-century uniforms, while using period authentic gloves, balls & bats.

According to event Co-Chairman Mike Hauser, "We are excited to be honoring such local legends as Stewart & Baldwin, along with one of the true pioneers in integrating the game of baseball (Harmon)."

At the conclusion of the game, representatives from the Fulton County Museum will be on hand to help unveil the next two Fulton County Sports Historical Society road markers that denote important Sports History sites in Fulton County. The Parkhurst Field Museum, which chronicles the history of the facility since 1906, will be open to the public that day. Admission to the game is a $5 donation to the groups HOF Fund. Limited edition Chuck Harmon lithographs & copies of his Biography "First Black Red" will be available for signing. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with the Glovers vs Buckskins game at noon, and the Vintage Game/HOF Ceremonies set to begin at 2pm. Parkhurst Field/Gloversville Little League is located at 50 Harrison Street in Gloversville. For more information, visit www.fchof.com or contact Mike Hauser at 518-725-5565. You can also visit the "Parkhurst Field" or "Fulton County Baseball & Sports HOF" Facebook Pages.